2nd Anniversary Blog Hop Day 2

Good morning, and welcome to Day 2 of our 2nd Anniversary Blog Hop!

Yesterday, Tasnim shared with you a bit about how Altenew got started.  It was so strange (and lovely!) to read her post, since it instantly transported me back to that very first release.  The two of us were nervous wrecks in the moments leading up to the official launch of the store, and it was so hard for me because I was at work and had to put all of that aside in order to teach my students!  It is just so wonderful to think of how we have grown since April 2014, and we owe so much to you – our friends, fans and customers!  Your support has meant so much to us, and you continue to inspire us each and every day!

Speaking of inspiration, we have an amazing line up for you today!  If you missed yesterday's hop, please go back and check it out HERE – you won't be sorry you did!  Tasnim's post was all about the birth of Altenew and some of her favorites from our first release.  Today, I'll be reflecting upon some of my favorites from the releases we have had since, leading up to a little sneak peek of our May 2016 release!

My first card features stamps from our first two releases:  Super Script (April 2014 Release) and Sketchy Cities Abroad (July 2014 Release).  I started by watercoloring a background with a blend of blue and green paints.  Once it was dry, I stamped the Shanghai skyline with black ink.  I used the MISTI stamp tool since I was stamping on cold-pressed paper (it is fairly textured), and I needed to stamp twice to get a clean impression.  Then, I stamped and embossed my sentiment onto vellum, and used the Super Script Die to cut it out before adhering to my card with foam tape.

My next card combines two unlikely stamp sets:  To the Moon (February 2015 Release) and Layered Lily (July 2015 Release).  I stamped the leaves using our Green Fields coordinating inks, and the flower was stamped with the Red Sunset collection.  Then, I used the coordinating dies to cut everything out.  The moon was stamped using our Warm Gray inks, and then I layered all of the elements with varied levels of foam tape. The sentiment was stamped and embossed onto our Jet Black cardstock, and adhered with foam tape.

This card uses two of our newer sets, Painted Greetings (January 2016 Release) and Penned Rose (April 2016 Release).  I started by stamping and masking two roses and one of the leaf clusters from the Penned Rose set, then quickly and loosely watercolored the images.  When it comes to watercoloring, sometimes it's best not to think too much about it!  Then, I simply added some green splattered paint and stamped the sentiment in black ink.  So simple!

Of course, in honor of our 2nd anniversary, I just had to make a card in the signature Altenew colors – black and gold!!  This card includes a sentiment which I created with our Modern Deco Alpha set (November 2015 Release), as well as a sneak preview of a floral stamp set we will be releasing next month!  The floral images were stamped randomly onto white cardstock in Delicata gold ink, then mounted onto a black card base.  The sentiment was stamped onto a strip of cardstock and adhered with foam tape.

Before we get to the blog hop, I want to say that one of my favorite things about Altenew is being on such an amazing team.  I feel so lucky to work with such dedicated people who all share the same passion!

I hope that the girls don't mind, but I want to share a few photos that Tasnim, May, and I took this past weekend.  I think you will see right away how difficult it was for us to get a “normal” photo (although we did eventually…haha).   I can't help but be a goof when I am around these girls, and I wish we lived close enough to work together every day.

Maybe next time we can get a photo of the whole team together – I love all of you ladies!!

PRIZES:

Leave comments along the way for the opportunity to win one of THREE prize packs valued at over $100 from Altenew! This amazing prize pack includes not-yet-released stamp sets.

There are 8 awesome companies who are celebrating with us, and they are offering the following prizes:

• Pretty Pink Posh : $30 Gift Certificate
• WOW! Embossing Powder : $30 Prize Pack
• Simon Says Stamp : $30 Gift Certificate
• Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L : $30 Prize Pack
• Ellen Hutson : $50 Gift Certificate
• Freckled Fawn : Gypsy Kit valued at $27
• My Sweet Petunia : Mini MISTI
• StampNation : Three 3 Month Subscriptions

Be sure to leave comments on each stop by Tuesday, April 12, 2016 at 11:59 PM EST for a chance to win! 13 winners will be chosen at random from the collective blogs in the hop list and will be announced on the Altenew blog on Apr 14th.

Altenew Special Offer:

• First 100 orders : 1 free mini stamp set (Starting April 7th at 9:00 AM EST)
• Orders over $75 : 1 free mini stamp set (Now through Sunday, April 10, 2016)

Your next stop at the hop is the always amazing Kristina Werner!

Altenew
Kristina Werner
Anna Kossakovskaya
Simon Says Stamp
Agnieszka Malyszek
Melania Deasy
Marika Rahtu
Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L
Nicole Picadura
Darlene DeVries
Pamela Ho